Latest custom

[Caliper]

Hi all, been away for a while...

well, Mako suggested me to do a WIP on my first attempt of full same wrap, so here it is, it was very fun

the blade story getting customized is in here:
http://www.swordsofmightforum.com/showthread.php?t=2082

if you're lazy, here's the short story, it's a folded 1095 DH blade, i gave it a full polish, the tsuka was too slim, the wood felt very weak and was just a hazard to carry, I could feel the nakago dance inside the tsuka, so I took it into getting a new tsuka core, and a full wrap

here's he polished blade done with fingerstones
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/polished02.jpg

and here we go:

tsuka core with same
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same01.jpg

closer look at the same, mmm...emperor nodes, yummy
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same02.jpg

Same, cut to size, I cut a larger width since same shrinks after soaking and drying
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same03.jpg

soaking for a few seconds
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same04.jpg

test fitting on tsuka for dimensions
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same05.jpg

the kashira didn't fit at the butt of the tsuka, so I needed to sand and reshape by carving out a bit for the same to go flush with the kashira
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same06.jpg

after reshape, more test fitting
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same07.jpg

you can see the same overlaps, this style is called, Maedare-gise, and the line is hidden with tsuka-maki
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same08.jpg

test fitting with fuchi and kashira
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same10.jpg

a little FYI, when the same's soak, it loosens and can be slightly stretch, you must align it properly on the tsuka and wait for it to dry, this will make it shrink and take shape around the tsuka, giving the tsuka more structural integrity, I actually had to soak and wait to dry several times until I was pleased

when the same is soak, the back gets sticky and this sticks to the tsuka, but I decided to use some glue, I mixed 2 parts water and 1 part elmers glue to make the mix and apply on the tsuka and left to dry

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same12.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same09.jpg

I wanted an aged looked, so I used an old scale-modelers trick to achieve the result
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ful-same11.jpg

[Caliper]

While doing some googling on same and tsuka maki, I bump into a very nice tsukamaki style, where lacquering is used, since I was never pleased with the 3 color ito choice I had in the beginning and I always love a challenge, I decided to go with this

the style is named "fuji-maki" with wide diamonds, my attempt is far from perfect, but a good way to start for future attempts, 4 ito strands are used to make the wrap, and several coats of lacquered is used to seal, the end knots where an absolute pain in the scrotum!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same13b.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same14.jpg

oh yes, in the end, i enjoy more the look of "Marugise" same wrap with the line on the centers, so I went with it, I got a little scissor happy at the top and end up with a slight gap :-<
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same15.jpg

oh yes, I'm also using one pegg only, the tsuka fits very snuggly and firm

well, I'm still working on the tsuba so, it's not finished yet ~X(

[Takatom]

While doing some googling on same and tsuka maki, I bump into a very nice tsukamaki style, where lacquering is used, since I was never pleased with the 3 color ito choice I had in the beginning and I always love a challenge, I decided to go with this

the style is named "fuji-maki" with wide diamonds, my attempt is far from perfect, but a good way to start for future attempts, 4 ito strands are used to make the wrap, and several coats of lacquered is used to seal, the end knots where an absolute pain in the scrotum!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same13b.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same14.jpg

oh yes, in the end, i enjoy more the look of "Marugise" same wrap with the line on the centers, so I went with it, I got a little scissor happy at the top and end up with a slight gap :-<
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same15.jpg

oh yes, I'm also using one pegg only, the tsuka fits very snuggly and firm

well, I'm still working on the tsuba so, it's not finished yet ~X(

Appart from the ito colur it looks very good. Im not into that blue. But That blade... great polish-work =D>
Katatemaki has also been in my interest the latest time. In Pictures of old tsukas the ito is allmost shining. Some of them maybe from use. Recently I read that katatemaki often were laquered.
Keep up the fine work Cal:karate:
.................................................. .................................................. .............................................
We've arrived, and to prove it we're here.

[bobO]

Wow, That does look sweet! Some day I'm gonna learn how to do this,as I have two swords that are just sitting waiting for this. Well one sword still needs a new HO which I can do, just can't get the hang of Tsukamaki. Nice work. Ps, Cal, Rep for the lesson on the full sami wrap, which as far as I'm concerned is the only why to go.

[Mako]

Muy, muy bueno Cal'. =D>

The colour seems a little bright in the pics but the actual 'fuji-maki' turned out well.

Here's a few alternatives that I'm sure you'll try in the future...

http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/m-kenji/tsukamaki.html

Thanks for a great post. ;)

[the blade master]

outstanding as allways cal indeed worthy of a rep
mick:ohyeah:

[wolfhound]

:-O Woe, you did a full Sa'me bind and a tape wrap, Most excellent, I'm extremely impressed :celebration:

[andysoard]

very good work there caliper. I like the shine of the ito

[zentredi]

nice job cal though next time try a razorknife and straight edge of some type when cutting the same. another little trick is to glue the same to the tsuka core while it is still damp and pliable and letting it dry-set ,this takes a couple of days longer dryingtime though. but still a better job than my first wrap, again nice job.

[Caliper]

thanks guys!!

Mako, that's exactly the page I bumped and saw the red fuji maki I said to myself, "I must learn to do that"; of course, Mr. Toyama is a mukansa and what I did can't even be compared to his masterful work

Zentredi, I shall try an exacto knife next time, the thing is, I had achieved a very good line with no gap along the tsuka, but the whole stretchy/drying same thing got a whole of me while I was watching TV, got distracted, scissor happy and well, lesson learned =))

by the way, the ito is made out of paper, hehehe, yes, paper, that same night I bumped with the fuji maki I also saw a thing about some tsukamaki historically made with rice paper and then lacquered, and I said to myself: "challenge accepted" :sumo:

[Caliper]

Kk, tsuba is done, waiting the final details to dry and cure before assembling the full katana, ahh...the tsuba, I was never happy with the choice I made about the fittings when I acquired them and tried numerous things to improved it

here's how they originally were
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ktemp03.jpg

I then changed the color and did some weathering, looked better but I wasn't very pleased
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ktemp05.jpg

so, I changed them again, this looked much better
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/ktemp07.jpg

but in the end, I realized the design itself of the tsuba was not my taste, so I just said, F' it!!, let's fool around with it completely, so I got rid of all the tsuba dragon design with a belt grinder,

Interesting fact. This fittings are the same sold by artsfeng on ebay and used by other katana sellers on the internet, some advertised them as made out of "copper", turns out they really are made of brass coated with copper and then paint, artsfeng describes them properly, but other shady businesses will sell them as made completely out of copper and not brass, so, keep an eye on that

anyway, I god rid of the design, fill some gaps, sand smooth any unevenness, and gave a textured black finished
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/tsuba03.jpg

and then added the final little details, I was more inclined into a more simple look than the flashier original
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/tsuba01.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/tsuba02.jpg

thanks for looking B-)

[goose710]

Cal
I like what you've done there
da gooseman

[andysoard]

I second that very nice work there Caliper.

[Caliper]

Hi, so I mounted the katana and I have to say, I am NOT pleased with the outcome. After I mounted the tsuka I noticed an unattractive slimming of the tsuka near the kashira, I took off too much wood and the kashira looks fat and unflushed with the lacquered ito, looks awful

I also did some swings, the katana feels very top heavy, but the most odd thing is that I feel a slight lateral sway from the nakago inside the tsuka eventhough it's a very tight fit, so I most likely will have to add the second mekugi peg after all.

since I will have to unmount the tsuka to properaly reshape the tsuka, I must unwrap the ito, ultimately destroying it so I decided to get a better quality ito and do a much better wrap. I'm a little undecided if I should carve a completely new tsuka making it longer to adjust balance, but I'm really terrible working with wood

anyway, pics...

notice the smiling at the tsuka end with a fat kashira... UGLY
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same15-1.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same16.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same17.jpg

I ended up bumping with a very nice leather suede ito, didn't have 1mm to use as 4 strands as the original wrap, but this length helps me make smaller diamonds, in the same maki style

did some practice with a leftover tsuka and I'm pleased with the look, so this is how the tsuka will be rewrapped

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same18.jpg

any opinion, suggestion or advice, always welcomed B-)

[andysoard]

I would suggest either make a longer tsuka or adding more weight around the fuchi. The sueade (mispelled, kinda tired right now) would look nice, but as a suggestion, try to get it in a similar color as the previous, I thought it looked very nice.

[zentredi]

Hi, so I mounted the katana and I have to say, I am NOT pleased with the outcome. After I mounted the tsuka I noticed an unattractive slimming of the tsuka near the kashira, I took off too much wood and the kashira looks fat and unflushed with the lacquered ito, looks awful

I also did some swings, the katana feels very top heavy, but the most odd thing is that I feel a slight lateral sway from the nakago inside the tsuka eventhough it's a very tight fit, so I most likely will have to add the second mekugi peg after all. Cal i've done worse when making the tsuka core, all i can say is when shaping the core check the fit of fuchi/kashira often as they should fit tightly this is especially important for the fuchi. if they are tight then usually the same and ito will fit nice and flush. as for the nakago-ana this is the most time-consuming part for me as i carve the nakago-ana completely from one side of the core ,it makes for a stronger tsuka, again check the fit often i wouldn't be surprised if i check the fit fifty times or more when carving the nakago-ana, also there might be times when you need to file down a spot on the nakago itself if it slightly thicker.can't say nothing about the wrap itself since i still use cheater-strings when i do the ito

[Caliper]

Thanks for suggestions guys ;)
I decided to just fix the tsuka, since making a new one would require me to buy more samegawa and I'm too impatient to wait 2 weeks for it

I quickly took everything apart, I was a bit sad to remove the lacquered wrap since it's something that took me sooooooooooooooo long, but I'll venture into it with better ito and tsuka in the future for a better result instead of the my original half asses experimental attempt :ohyeah:

so, fixed the tsuka shape, I slimmed everything to match the distal part, this also help to refit the same and fix the middle gap and wrap, I'm very pleased this time

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same20.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same19.jpg

I gotta say, I'm liking the feel of the suede leather, and don't worry andysoard, I'll be dyeing the leather to a more opaque blue similar to my original attempt, the suede dyes very efficiently

[Maynar]

I kinda like the current shade.....

Nice work Cal! :)

[andysoard]

you did a real nice job Caliper. I only suggested the darker color, if you like it the way it is is fine with me :)

[Caliper]

dyed the ito, was easier than I expected, hmm....flash makes it look paler than it is

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same21.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same22.jpg

a better shot, close up of color, ito-maki and same wrap with no gap, yeiiih
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/full-same23.jpg

[zentredi]

THAT IS NICE ! I like it a lot better than the first wrap. that paper ito didn't appeal to me at all, but that suede looks cool as hell

[zentredi]

by the way who did you get the ito from anyway? i would like to try it on my wolf sword when i get around to it, if it comes in brown or grey.

[andysoard]

I too would also like to know where you get your ito and even the same. been thinking about redoing my first custom.

[Caliper]

Ok, I'm done, this custom was a great learner, the only thing I didn't touch was the saya, hahaha

in resume
- Fingerstone polish in Sashikomi method 1095 folded clay tempered blade
- 9 inch tsuka with full same wrap in Marugise with centered joint style
- Samegawa was given an aged look
- reworked fuchi, kashira and menuki
- changed seppas and reworked habaki
- Dyed suede leather ito in a variation of (I'm not sure about the name) Tsunami-maki with 2 ito strands
- chemical fiber sageo

took some quick pics, my gf needed the digicam, as you can see, blue was the overall theme

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue01.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue02.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue03.jpg

Hamon always a pain to picture

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue04.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue05.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue06.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q288/cyclosporine/Katanas/Huawei%20custom/blue07.jpg

Hope you guys like.

I got the suede leather from a local store that sells art and craft stuff, they had a lot of leather, suede and silk strands in several widths useful as ito, including silk strand that could be very useful for jabara-ito-maki.

hmm, wish I could be of more help for you guys, I tried looking at online stores but could not find the specific strand I got. Try looking at jewelry or arts and craft stores.

I finally understand what's all the fuzz about suede leather ito, the feel and grip is very comfortable.

well, thanks for looking :king:

[Caliper]

Got the samegawa on ebay from seller art_zhu1976, I found the shipping price inexplicably inflated from the several items I bought
(http://myworld.ebay.com/art_zhu1976)

[andysoard]

Very nice work as always Caliper. and thanks for the tip on where you got your same.

[ranger97]

I like that..Good Job

[wolfhound]

Well it looks far better now but I still think that the original tape bound tsuka was a little more adventurous:elf::SandS::sword::mace:

[Mako]

I like it very much. =P~

[goose710]

Caliper

I find your color scheme very pleasing!! (got a thing for blue)
well finished project DUDE!!!
da gooseman

[Torawashi]

Cal; beautiful work as usual bro; congratulations and rep on the way to you!

[Caliper]

Thanks everyone

call me crazy, but I think I'm gonna redo the wrap, I noticed some uneven diamonds :flush:

you're welcome andysoard, hope to see you posting your custom work also-

For some reason, I'm not getting any lateral sway in the tsuka anymore, I think the ito wrap help tighten the tsuka more, the paper ito was rather fragile and I didn't pull tight enough, so in the end, no extra work was needed

and I'm beginning to like the top heaviness of the blade B-)